SACRAMENTO - This has been absurd. There should be an easier way to yank a shamed, politically impotent sexual predator from a mayor's office. There is, of course. Bob Filner could have - should have - resigned as San Diego mayor weeks ago. He should have slinked off soon after so many women - at least 16 now - tagged him as a sexual creep. After the accusations of gropes, slobbering kisses and sexual innuendoes by female city employees, political aides, business execs, college officials, military sexual assault victims and a retired admiral.

Santa Ana has hired away Phoenix's city manager and has agreed to an annual salary and benefits package of more than half a million dollars, instantly making him one of the highest paid city employees in California. David Cavazos, a longtime Phoenix employee who rose through the ranks from intern to city manager during his 26-year tenure, would have a total compensation package of $558,625 in his first year in Santa Ana. Only the city manager in tiny Indian Wells is listed as having a higher salary and benefits package at $677,172, according to the state controller's office, which most recently released data for 2011.

The city of Santa Ana has hired away Phoenix's city manager and has agreed to a salary and benefits package of more than $500,000, making him one of the highest paid city employees in California. David Cavazos is a long-time Phoenix city employee who rose through the ranks from intern to city manager over 26 years. In Santa Ana, he will earn a base salary of $315,000, the same base amount he made as manager in Phoenix, which has a population of 1.47 million. Santa Ana has a population of about 330,000.

The Montage Beverly Hills' Parq Bar - in the city's Golden Triangle business district - offers a luxe refuge. Friends meet for $50 tea service, and deals get done over bottles of Veuve Clicquot. But two prominent civic figures recall a far-from-soothing encounter at the Parq a few years ago, when they met with Clif Smith, publisher of the town's oldest newspaper, the Beverly Hills Courier. Smith had scarcely settled in before he demanded that the head of the Chamber of Commerce be fired and then suggested that the city manager should go as well.

FRESNO - A long-awaited state audit released Monday sheds new light on the forces that drove Stockton into bankruptcy, citing poor accounting practices that cost the city millions of dollars but finding no evidence of outright corruption. "Stockton is not Bell - we found no evidence that corruption and self-dealing drove this city into insolvency," state Controller John Chiang said in a statement. "Instead, many of Stockton's problems can be tracked to poor decision-making" related to weak accounting and financial management systems.

August 2, 2013 | By Abby Sewell, This post has been updated. See the note below for details.

Compton's city manager has fired an aide to new City Councilman Isaac Galvan who had past convictions for political misconduct. City Manager Harold Duffey confirmed Friday that he had fired Angel Gonzalez, who was hired as Galvan's council liaison on July 3. Gonzalez was fired Thursday, he said. The move came three days after The Times ran a story on Galvan that included information about Gonzalez's criminal history. Gonzalez is a printer and political consultant known in Southeast L.A. for his past work for former South Gate Treasurer Albert Robles, who is serving time in federal prison for his part in a wide-ranging bribery scheme.

Just months after three former Cudahy officials were convicted of extortion and bribery , the Southeast L.A. County town is facing more upheaval. A longtime councilman has stepped down and a second may not return after having a stroke, according to city officials and sources. Frank Gurule, who had served on the council for 14 years, submitted his resignation Friday, citing “familial commitments and responsibilities” as a reason for his departure. “I have enjoyed my tenure on the city council and wish all of you the best in every endeavor,” Gurule wrote.

In selecting Rick Cole as his deputy mayor for budget and innovation last week, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti got an outspoken proponent of high-density building along transit corridors and someone who, as a former city manager, demanded accountability from department heads. Cole, 60, was Ventura's city manager for eight years before abruptly stepping down last year. He was city manager of Azusa before that and is a former mayor of Pasadena. During his tenure in Ventura, he championed the adoption of an all-infill general plan, reorganized departments and recruited high-tech businesses to the laid-back coastal city.

This post has been corrected. See the note at the bottom for details. In selecting Rick Cole as his deputy mayor for budget and innovation, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is getting an outspoken proponent of high-density building along transit corridors and one who, as a city manager, demanded accountability from department heads. Cole, 60, was Ventura's city manager for eight years before abruptly stepping down last year. He was city manager of Azusa before that and is a former mayor of Pasadena.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Friday named third-place mayoral candidate Kevin James to the powerful Board of Public Works - the latest appointment to go to a political supporter. James, a Republican radio host who campaigned aggressively for Garcetti in the run-up to the May 21 runoff election, was one of six new appointees announced by the newly installed mayor. He has already tapped former mayoral candidate Jan Perry, who also endorsed him in the campaign, to run a new economic development agency on an interim basis.